SGMW, CATL to co-launch battery-swappable vehicle model in 2025

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On November 18, SAIC-GM-Wuling （"SGMW")'s Red Label division officially launched its new energy vehicle (NEV) strategy, introducing several commercial NEV models, including the Wuling Hongguang REEV (range-extended electric vehicle), Wuling Hongguang BEV (battery electric vehicle), and Wuling Sunshine EV.

Photo credit: SGMW

Alongside the launch, SGMW announced a landmark collaboration with CATL to unveil the world's first battery-swapping strategy for commercial vehicles. With this move, the automaker joins CATL's "Chocolate Battery Swap Alliance," which already includes automakers like Dongfeng Motor and BAIC Group.

Zhou Xing, General Manager of Branding and Communications for SGMW, stated that the partnership with CATL spans both commercial and passenger vehicles. The two companies will co-develop battery-swappable vehicle models, with their first cooperative product, the Wuling Yangguang battery-swappable commercial vehicle, set for release in 2025. Battery-swappable passenger vehicles are also in development and will be rolled out gradually.

CATL launched its EVOGO battery-swapping service and its Choco-SEB (swapping electric block) technology in 2022, offering rapid battery replacement in just 1.5 minutes. Looking ahead, CATL aims to expand its battery-swapping network to over 30 cities with more than 500 battery swapping stations by 2025, and to more than 70 cities with over 1,500 stations by 2026.

According to SGMW's data, in October this year, the company sold 179,000 vehicles globally, a year-on-year leap of 42.1%. In this period, its NEV sales exceeded 110,000 units, surging by 125.4% year-on-year, while overseas exports reached 19,600 units, up 35.5% compared to the same period last year.